Repulsive Beauty || Hisoka

2. On Surrender

I walked like a zombie back to my room, in a daze. Dodging fans and reporters, other fighters, and everyone else who saw the fight. I can barely make out what they're all saying.

"Tess, how does it feel to be the first ever to win a fight against Hisoka?"
"Tess, what did you do to him?"
"What's your nen ability?"
"Why have you never used that before?"
"Is his nen gone forever?"
With how loud it was in the hallway with everyone talking over each other, it mind as well have been silent. I finally reached the elevator up to the fighter only levels, and the guards held off the crowds while I stepped in. The reporter's faces looked so ecstatic, despite witnessing something so gruesome.
I stared at myself in the reflections of the elevator door. I was looking at a floor master.
I plucked the card from my arm, a queen of hearts. I wonder if that has any significance.
After cashing in my earnings, I made my way to my newly assigned room. It was absolutely lavish. Everything was either white or gold, plush and polished. Frankly it felt very unwelcoming.
I was too tired to make it more approachable, so instead I just closed the door behind me and started stripping my sweaty and restrictive clothing off, leaving a trail as I made way for the large claw foot tub.

I don't know how long I had been soaking before I heard a knock on the door. Long enough for me to have gotten pruny.
"Just a minute!" I exclaimed as I clumsily clamored out of the tub and tied a huge robe around myself.
"I think you might have the wrong room" I said loudly as I reached to open the door.
Only they didn't have the wrong room at all.
I pulled the door open with a smile, thinking it was someone else's room service. After all, I didn't know anybody here.
On the threshold was a petite woman with bright pink hair and large eyes. She looked kind of pissed.
"I'm sorry can I help you.?" I asked meekly. She was surprisingly intimidating.
"May I come in?" She asked shortly.
"Uh? I'm sorry I really don't know who you are, I wasn't expecting company."
"My name's Machi" she said as she pushed past me and made her way to the sitting area by the window, "Hisoka sent me to fix your arm" she said without even turning to look at me.
"Excuse me? Hisoka sent you?" I gasped with disbelief.
I was so hung up on the adrenaline of the fight that I had forgotten about how severely my arm was wounded. Peeking into the bathroom I see that the tub is full of red stained water.
"Yes, Hisoka. You know, big tall guy, goofy looking hair, face paint. Oh you might remember him from your match today" she mocked with a straight face.
"Yeah, I'm plenty aware of who he is. I'm asking what business he has sending someone to my room, never mind why he would bother concerning himself with my wound."
I couldn't begin to imagine what was going on in his head when he sent this woman.
"I don't ask questions and neither should you. Come sit down and let me stitch you up." her voice was a little softer.
I finally closed the door and came to sit next to her on the couch backed up to the balcony. The moonlight was filtering in and the city was just as bright.
"I'm Tess by the way. I mean you know that but it feels weird not introducing myself."
"Mhm, take your arm out of the robe and let me see." she stated pretty demandingly.
"The blood's soaking through your robe. He must have gotten you pretty deep." Her voice softened again, like she was trying not to feel bad for me but was failing.
"It can't be so bad. I forgot about it until you came in. I guess we can chalk that up to adrenaline." I thought out loud while I slipped my arm out.
"It's not very wide but it's definitely through your muscles. Alright here we go", and off she went, weaving my skin and muscle back together with her nen. I'd never seen anything like it. It was like watching a ballet at 200x speed.
She was done in under a minute. My arm had never looked better, even the severed tattoo was perfectly repaired.
"Thank you." I wasn't sure what else to say. "Can I pay you? Honestly name a price. I couldn't have healed this well at any hospital." My voice tapers off.
"Hisoka's paid me." She gets up and starts walking away nonchalantly. "I'd bet it's because he thinks you're pretty." she stated matter of factly.
My stomach tied up.
"Sorry. What?" I asked meekly.
Only then did she stop and turn to look at me. This time, with intensity in her eyes, and maybe... pity?
"Listen, Tess. You seem like a nice person, and clearly you can hold your own. But I'd recommend keeping your distance from Hisoka. After this evening, I'd imagine you're on the top of his list of people to kill." she warned.
And with that she turned and walked through the door, it swung slowly closed behind her, and sealed with a click.
What the fuck kind of conflicting information was that!? I'm sorry he thinks I'm pretty and also wants to KILL ME!? I'm going to forget she said anything. I think that's for the best. I finally look at the time for the first time since before the match. It's just past 8:30. I'm too restless to stay in the room, plus that gives me way too much time to use my brain, which I'd really like to avoid. It's like a war zone in there right now.
Hisoka's attracted to me.? I mean I guess I'll admit I'm attracted to him in a very "I have daddy issues" sort of way. Why the hell am I fixating on that part instead of the part where he wants to kill me!?
Okay enough of that. I need a fucking drink.
Realizing I'm still sitting on the couch in a robe, I get up and dig out a fitted black dress that ends just above my knee, with an open back and thin straps. These upper levels are so posh, I feel like even this might be under dressed for the bar. Stepping into some simple black pumps, I make my way out of the door and to the bar.
The hallways are silent, and empty. The only sign of life was everyone's aura, leaking
carelessly through the walls as they relax in their rooms.
Stepping into the hotel's bar, suddenly everything was just a touch more tense. There were games of pool and poker going on on the sidelines, and plenty of men with hired company lounging about. There aren't many women up above the 200th floor, as contestants anyway.
I settle at an empty seat at the bar, order a drink and swing my feet back and forth, trying not to think of Hisoka. He wouldn't kill me just anywhere would he? I doubt it. He sent someone to patch me up after all. Still, I'd really hate to run into him.
I felt someone approach me from behind, as my back was to the door. Their aura was intense but not sinister. They sat in the seat right next to me, despite the variety of other options.
That's a little annoying.
"You're Tess, right?"
It was a man's voice, no one I've met. I turn to look and it's a classically handsome guy, probably late twenties. His aura spiked when I made eye contact.
"Yeah, I'm Tess. And you are.?"
"I'm Borato, it's such an honor to meet you!" he was practically glowing.
Must be a big fan.
"Oh don't put me on such a pedestal." I say with a little bitterness.
"Really, it is. Your fight today was AMAZING I mean how did you ev-", he rambled on before I cut him off.
"I'd really. REALLY rather not talk about the fight. If you don't mind." I snapped.
"Oh. Okay yeah I'm sorry. I bet you've answered every question under the sun already... Well if it means anything I would have struck up a conversation with you any other day" he jeered, dragging his eyes down and up my body.
"Oh is that so?" I ask, feigning overconfidence. I don't pay much mind to being attractive, so it feels nice to be flirted with. Not to mention it's a great distraction.
"Yeah I mean. Holy shit", he chuckles nervously avoiding my eyes, "You're a smoke show. Sorry for being corny, but how else do you say it?".
I almost blush, he seems sweet. Too sweet to be a contender. Not to mention his weak aura.
"So, Borato. How the hell did you get access to this bar? It's for the 200th floor and up."
"That obvious that I'm not a fighter, huh? I should have known you'd be able to tell", he laughs off a bit of embarrassment.
"Uh, yeah I work for the hotel portion of the arena, I have an all access pass essentially."
"Oh that's a nice bonus. If I had known getting into this bar was as easy as getting a job here I wouldn't have taken the hard route of fighting my way up." I joke.
"Believe me, you make way more fighting than I do managing." His voice tapered off.
"Well. If it's any consolation, I'm not sure the stress of fighting is worth the money." I console, toying with my empty glass.
"Can I buy you another drink?"
"Yeah, sure. I probably should go with water and mint. I don't think more alcohol is a great idea after the blood loss." Damn. I only had a glass of wine and I'm feeling warm.
"Can do. How is your arm by the way?" he asked, unable to see from his vantage.
"It's fine, thanks. Hey I'll be right back, I'm going to use the ladies room."
I stood up to leave before he could ask questions. By the look on his face, he had a few.

The restroom was just as finely finished as anywhere else. I'm surprised they don't have someone in there to wipe your ass for you. God my face looks awful. The whole right side is swollen and bruising, mostly my cheekbone. I fix my hair to cover what I can.

When I get back to the bar, my water is already there and topped with fresh mint.
"Awesome, thanks!"
"Yeah I mean, you're welcome for the $0.50 drink." he laughed.
"I appreciate it more than alcohol, I promise."
Some time goes by of us chatting, and me nursing my water. I'm not feeling any better actually, I'm feeling even more woozy. Borato must have noticed because he reached out and touched my arm.
"You look tired. Am I keeping you up? I can walk you to your room."
"Oh no. I think I'm okay." That's a lie. Somethings wrong.
Then I feel it. Hisoka's aura, faint and restful at first, but getting stronger. Shit. I absolutely cannot defend myself right now. I can barely keep myself upright.
"Actually I think I'll take you up on you taking me to my room. I'm really feeling that blood loss." I beg hoping maybe I can bypass Hisoka.
"Yeah sur-" and he gets cut off.
He's here, and now oozing bloodlust...